THE FALLEN VILLAIN

　　The guards are visibly shocked to even hear that there was silver in the town since Adam had kept his discoveries secret.

　　"Lady Zara!" Mike shrieks before he starts crying hysterically. "Lady Zara. She did it. She brought the silver. I swear I didn't know about it. I didn't know they were injecting it into the water! I only took all the money. I didn't know they were going to kill people...."

　　Ethan has always suspected Lady Zara but he still felt like there was someone else involved. "Are you sure Zara is the only one in this?" Ethan's voice booms in the never-ending tunnel.

　　"Yes! Alpha, they were others-" Mike stutters scratching his scalp so hard Ethan is sure the action will draw blood to his nail.

　　"Who are the others involved?"

　　"I- We never met. Only Lady Zara came to me. I didn't meet anyone else. I promise!" His eyes start looking around fearfully.

　　Ethan nods. Since Mike has fulfilled his end of the bargain, he will do his too. He will spare him from the pain. Ethan steps past the guards and none of them tries to stop him for they feel the power elude him. His alpha powers pull and sizzle at his fingertips. He stretches his neck and long curly sharp claws emerge out of his hands.

　　Mike has resumed laughing going to his knees and snickering like a lunatic, the sight is pitiful but to be a leader, you can't afford to show weakness. Ethan gets closer to her and in one swift move, he digs his sharp claws into Mike's chest, clutching his heart with a muffled mushy sound. Mike gasps and his body starts weakening. Ethan pulls out his hand and it comes out with Mike's heart.

　　In the last seconds, before he is completely dead, his eyes return to normal just in a brief flash and he that moment before he breathes his last he whispers, "thank you..."

　　Ethan chunks the heart on the ground and tramples on it with the heels of his shoe. One of the guards immediately produces a handkerchief for him to wipe his hand with and he takes it gratefully

　　When he is done they all return to the bucket and they pull on the ropes, to signal to the person controlling it from above that they were done. Slowly the rope tightens and they begin their ascent to the surface.

　　"What are we going to do now?" Max asks Ethan as they move e on the bucket.

　　"I have a strong feeling we have more suspects. We just need to act very smartly about it, " Ethan says as they get to the top. Ethan is the first to leave the locally made lift and steps aside to wait for the others.

　　"We can send the guards to get her while we wait right here. Being close to the pit, she is bound to talk, she can't escape it!" Max says and Ethan can't help but nod at the wisdom behind his words.

　　"Guards, go to Lady Zara and bring her here! Right now!" Ethan tells them.

　　Ethan stands with his hands folded behind him, waiting patiently for the guards to return. As he stands, he thinks if what he will ask her to get the answers he needs, and if she fails to respond or cooperate he would have no choice but to send her to the black hole just like he did to Mike.

　　Max observes his boss trying to learn as much as he can from him.

　　Soon the guards return with a tight-faced Lady Zara. They lead her straight to where Ethan is standing.

　　"Alpha what is this about?" Her voice is on the high side but she tries to smile so it doesn't come off as straight off rude.

　　Ethan moves closer to her, his tall frame falling over her like a shadow. "I'll make this quick. What do you know about the silver implant in the town's water system?"

　　The guards gasp and glance at each other not believing that the old woman can be involved in such a thing or even believe that anyone could do this to their small town.

　　Lady Zara is taken aback from the question and feat settles in her eyes. She stares at the black hole behind her and she gulps. Understanding flows through her veins. Mike must have sang the truth to Ethan. By the time she turns her eyes to Ethan again, the fear is replaced with confidence.

　　"Alpha, I don't know what you speak of?" She says through clenched teeth

　　"Hmm, I didn't think so. But lady Zara, don't you think as a stakeholder you should be more worried about the statement I said than the accusations?" Ethan asks her. He starts circling her and she is forced to remain in the middle like a cornered cat.

　　"What do you mean?" Again she plays dumb, she understands exactly what needs to be done but pretends not to.

　　"The water in the city is poisoned."

　　"I don't know about it..." She says batting her eyes in anxiety. Sweat breaks on her forehead and she looks like she wants to be anywhere than there in front of the black hole.

　　"Lady Zara, I do not have a lot of patience. Mike already confirmed your involvement in all of these-"

　　"I didn't do anything! I don't know anything. I am but a simple old woman with a status to maintain. I didn't do anything." Her eyes become tiny like beads and as she speaks her body shakes and Ethan can't tell if it is fear or anger.

　　"Lady Zara, how can you say you don't know a thing when it is your responsibility!" Ethan snaps. "I will not go through a lot of measures with you. All you have to do is admit your errors and maybe i can spare you!"

　　Her mouth hangs open as if she Is considering it for a few seconds but then she shakes her head. "I don't know anything."

　　Ethan hisses in anger and turns to one of the guards. "Who is responsible for the water in this town?"

　　"Lady Zara," The man replies.

　　"Good." Ethan turns to another guard. "Who is responsible for the food supply?"

　　"Lady Zara," the second guard replies.

　　Ethan's lips curve into a wicked smile as he circles back to her. "Now, how can you be responsible for all of these and yet not know how they got infected? Explain that..."

　　Her sweat increases and she starts looking left and right searching for an opening to escape. She doesn't want to have the same fate as Mike. she doesn't want to end up in the black hole. Everyone knows what happens to people who are sent there. She'll rather try her chances running away. Lady Zara starts making a shift but just like Mike, Ethan roars with his alpha voice and She finds herself unable to turn.

　　"Tell me who are the others and I might spare you!" Ethan barks at her as he holds her transformation with his mind.

　　In seconds she is wet all over her body like she has been drenched in rain. Trying to hold up to Ethan in her mind, takes more from her than she anticipated but she refuses to let go.

　　"I don't -know anything..." She stutters still standing her ground like a fallen villain.

　　Ethan intensifies his hold on her mind power and she breaks, unable to take it any longer. She falls to her knees and coughs out blood.

　　"All we wanted was to make this place better for everyone!" She screams with a cracked voice.

　　Ethan narrows his eyes at her but she knows she is already defeated, there is no going back for her.

　　"People had to die for the rest to stand out! Purge the weak! Purge the weak!" She continues yelling as tears starts flowing out of her eyes.

　　Ethan steps away from her and lives to the guards. "Take her to your cell. She must confess who she is involved with before we send her to the hole!" He instructs them before he starts walking away but Lady Zara screams again.

　　"Alpha, let me at least see my daughter. She is all I have! Please let me at least see her!" A lone tear trickles down her face. "It's a mother's wish... Please..."

　　Ethan is about to ignore her demands but at the last minute, he turns back and decides to use it to his advantage.

　　"Tell me what I need to know and I'll let you see your daughter... Refuse to open your mouth and i swear to you that even your daughter will not be spared!"

　　Ethan knows he has just mentioned the most cruel judgement he has ever made in his reign but he needs to take the measures to be able to curb the threat away from the town.

　　"Please don't do that. Anita is innocent. She doesn't know about any of this... Please, " she begs tears flooding her face.

　　Ethan grins. So tho is her weak point. Perfect!

　　"Max, stay with her. I will go bring the girl myself!"

　　"But do you know what she looks like?" Max asks. "Go with a few guards for easy identification. She may try to escape if you don't point her out in good time."

　　"I have met the girl a couple of times, I know what she looks like but I understand what you mean, send the guards over.

　　Ethan turns and walks towards town. Two guards follow closely behind him, as they go in search of Anita, Lady Zara's daughter.